Dr. David Fleming, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County, speaks at Shoreline Community College on Nov. 9, 2009 as part of the SCC Global Affairs Center series on the health of health-care systems around the world. Click here for a video of Fleming.

At the halfway point of Shoreline Community College Global Affairs Center’s four-part series looking at health-care systems around the world, one thing is clear: There are lots of ways to take your medicine.

Part 1 of the series kicked off Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 with a viewing of “Sick Around the World,” a documentary by the PBS show, Frontline. After the hour-long show, attendees heard from Dr. David Fleming, director of Public Health – Seattle & KingCounty. Fleming has also worked for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation directing health-care initiatives and for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control as deputy administrator.

“We’re at a very exciting time in public health and fortunate to be living where we do,” Fleming said.

The Obama administration has made several attempts at adding significant funding for public health. “The House bill that passed (Nov. 7, 2009) contains $30 billion for public health,” Fleming said. “The Senate version has less, $20 billion, but that’s still a lot.”

Fleming also said that as chair of a local group of health-care providers, insurance companies, hospitals and others, he’s optimistic that constructive change can come to the health-care system in this country.

In Part 2 of the series, on Tuesday, Nov. 10, Canadian journalist Ian Parker provided a glimpse into just how health care works north of the border. Parker, who is currently living in the U.S., outlined the differences between the Canadian and U.S. systems. After his presentation, one audience member raised a hand to ask about Canadian citizenship.